The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-01-08
lR. DABNEY'S CASE.

Journalism OF the ultra,republican schoo
Of politics Is the ultra and wilful disregard
of truth of statement practiced by them
Particularly Is this so of those newspaper
that are the ardent admirers and supporter
of Mr. Blaine's presidential aspirations
More than any other man in the active
whirl of American political life does Jas
G. Blaine stand as the embodiment OF un
truth and dishonor His whole course, from
the dsy he entered the halls Of congress
pressing the acce ptance by the government
of a worthless patent rifle, TO the day he
stepped from the secretary OF states oihce
with his official skirts smirched with Pc
ruvian guano, has been characterized iy
trickery, intrigue and deceit.
Taking their inspiration from him and
walking in his ways a major portion Of the
republican press OF the country has seen
fl TO studiously and steadily misrepresent
President Cleveland and those connected
with him since the adven, Of his admins
trstion. There has been no attempt AT
truth telling and no willingness 10 put be
fore the public, on their part, even fair
statement OF facts. misrepresentation
false insnuatlon, incorrect statement, and
absolute falsehoOd are the weapons that
are being used to break the present admin
istration. The very men who pen the will
full falsifcations and give currency to them
weuld refuse to do so II they pertained To
a purely private matter, They hate private
lying with the utmost vigor, but public ly.
ing, on the theory that "the end justifies
the MEANS" they not only tolerate but
freely indulge In as being bo.h wise and
just With them private conscience Is one
thing and public conscience quite another.
They at least make a show Of keeping the
former class, though the latter be black.
ened out Of existence.
A case Ia point Is the hue and cry raised
by them over the appointment by Commits
sioner of Pensions Black, through the OPP
Grafton OF the civil service laws, the eX-
animation conducted by republicans) sof
one Doctor T. s. Dabney, of the city of
New Orleans as one of the members Of
the board Of examining surgeons for that
city. Immediately upon the appointment
being made the cry was raised by the re-
publican press, lead on by the New York
Tribune, that an exrebel-a guard at An.
jacksonville prison noted for his inhumanity
TO notherH plisoners-had been selected by
General Black for the position Of examin,
Ing those applying for pensions at the
hands OF the government. The most heart
rending editorials were written, and the
purported outrage denounced In unmeas
ured terms The commissioner was pic.
tured MS a rebel, despite his services to the
northern cause, and the President and his
supporters As being In league with the
south to undo the work Of the war Not
one OF the Whole number OF journals ever
stopped to enquire rs to the truth of the
statements made by them relative to Dr.
Dabney, such thing not being In accord
with their method of political warfare.
In view OF all this, the following extract
from letter sent by the commissioner In
reply TO resolutions Of Censure passed by
the Goodspeed Post, No. 295, G. A Il, De
partment Of Kansas, forwarded to the Pres
ident and to himself, and the accompany.
ing letter from DR.. Dabney himself, are
not inappropriate:
Dr. Dahney was appointed to the office
he now holds In this bureau after eyamn
alton and certiiication of the U, :. civil
service commission, more than thirteen
months ago, on my selection. He then was
and now Is citizen of the United States
and on an equal footing with every other
citizen. There were no preferred sppli-
cants for the place. He has since dis
charged all the duties of his office in an
able and efficient manner, rs shown by the
reports of his superior officer, the medical
referee. He mas shown himself capable
and honest He Is in harmony with his
lawful superiors In their views of duty and
government These things rill alike the
requirements of sound government, of pub.
lie policy and existing law. DR. Dabney
may remain in public office. So far a,
am concerned while these conditions are
existing.
The foregoing statement concludes the
entire law of the case but that you may
not misapprehend the wisdom OF his mp
pointment, and that you may know who
and what this young man Is and has been,
and that you may know the recitaIs of your
resolutions are not true, and that your de.
nunciatiOn Is leveled nj one who In 1865
was but q child, and who never saw the
place you mention, (Andersonvllel | ap
pend certain papers for your consdera
ton and call your attention In conclusion
to the fact that the Union soldier has suf
fered no harm at DIR. Dabney's hands In
his year or more Of service as the doubling
record OF the pension bureau will show.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR !
PENSION OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, ID. & Dec, Dec. II, SO.
Hon. j. {. BLACK, Commissioner of Pen
siOns.
DEAR SIR: lnasmuch as the press of
this country have made many false state
meDts about me, deem II my duty "a
state upon honor that was born on cot
ton plantation In Kinds county. Miss Nav
10, 1850; that never was enlisted In army
that | never was at Andersonville In my
life; that so far az | know, no political In